Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-12-08
to these matters, much may yet be done
before next April to atone for tie past
with its shame and its failures.
SECRETARY ERDICOTTS REPORT

SECRE RYENDTCOTT'S REPORT
The report transmitted to Congress by
Secretary EndicOtt shows that our coun-
try is but poorly provided with defenses
in case of foreign invasion. There are
no large guns of consequence, and men
Of war with long range guns could bonn
bard our coast cities without opposition
from the land. The Secretary urges that
Notifications more or less elaborate be
inaugurated, and that guns and other
munitions of war be purchased. He
wants the army increased to at least 3d.
00s men, and that ofdcers attending
courts martial be allowed extra expenses
for such service. He makes some recon-
mendations of minor Importance, but the
report throughout betrays in bold lines,
that omnipresent characteristic of the
American Ofice-h holder 1t is peculiarly
an American trait, this longing for more
power, more Importance, and q continued
increase and progress in anything
under control. TIE schoolmsn be-
lieves that schools and colleges
are the greatest Institutions in
the world and if he had his way unre-
stricted, the country would be one vast
school room; the heads Of the vavious
departments in state or national govern
ments seem to think that their particular
departments are little more important
than those of anybody else, and that if
the government would only msks more
liberal appropriation, how much wiser it
would be acting. Scarcely report is
made by any officer that does not men
ton the inadequacy of appropriations,
and complain at the injurious p4rsimony
of the state. Money in abundance is
wanted all around. No ore VIII be sur
prised that Secretary Endicott should
follow the long line OF presidents in this
respect. He miDgles with militsrY men
and imbibes their ideas unconsciouslY.
In the eyes of the soldier the civilian is
being OF no consequence save d wealth
producer, &nd that wealth should be de-
voted to supporting noble sOldiery. The
more money appropriated and the larger
the army becomes the greater will the
soldier seem and the more opportunities
will be offered for his advancement. The
annual sD6wns Of military schools must
b. provided for aud to do this requires
the increase in the army and the building
of Notifications. Il is NOT likely that the
recommendation Of the Secretary will be
followed out to any considerable extent.
We are not well protected, It Is true, but
we require no protection. There is no
country on earth that would attack us,
and the money spent in building fortifcs-
tions and manning them would be q loss
to the country quite unnecessary. There
are many objections to be urged agSinst
spending fabulous sums of money in
building fortif3stlons. The strides Of
science in recent years have been such
that what would have been a defense ten
years ago would be no defense So all now,
and we may well believe tnat what would
be called defenses now will be antiquzted
ten years hence. These nations that are
spending their substance in forts and war
ships may live to see such in
plements OF war neutraljzed or
rendered vAlueless by some cheap and
simple contrivsnca of the scientist.
Nor is there any necessity for an increase
in the regular army. The miIitis in each
state can take care of the peace of the
common wealth, and it. is better to leave
the defenses In their hands. A standing
army is contrary to the spirit of our in
situations, and the longer we can do
without one the better. The reports of
those in authority all lean towards the
Capitalization and increase Of power, and
in this they but follow in the footsteps Of
the countries OF Europe that are now
soldier ridden and taxed beyond endur-
snce. We need few more frst-cIass
cruisers, but our land defenses are IN
necessary.
The country needs deep water to let
trading vessels in more than it needs
armed forts to keep war vessels out.
The Best.
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